February 4, 2022 3:36 am
City Council met virtually Thursday evening due to deteriorating weather conditions. Council approved two measures using Community Block Development Grants to help bring upgrades to the city’s fire department. First, council approved appropriating $100,000 to upgrade the department’s bank of radios. The radios are nearing the end of their designed life and need to be replaced. Secondly, council approved the repairs needed for the Tylerdale fire station. The cost of the entire project is $238,000. That is $38,000 more than initially budgeted but council chose to perform all of the updates prescribed as opposed to eliminating and delaying projects that will be needed in the future. Funding for that project will also come from CBDG funds. In committee reports at the agenda meeting on Monday, Park Director DeAnna Martin described events and projects that are scheduled for this year. She spoke of a “Night at the Races” event to help fund the city’s Fourth of July celebration. She also spoke of the development of a dog park for residents to exercise their pets. Construction for that is ongoing. Councilman Andrew Callan praised Martin for her efforts in running the park.
February 4, 2022 3:35 am
Thousands of customers are without power across the region as heavy snow and ice accumulated on trees and power lines. West Penn Power (First Energy) is reporting more than 24,000 customers without power in Washington County. West Penn Power tells WJPA News that crews are out and working to restore service but it is unclear how long it may take to bring everyone back online. There is a possibility some power could be out till Sunday evening. The outages are widespread throughout the county and the result of heavy ice bringing down tree and power lines. Durbin says poor road conditions and all the ice will slow their efforts to restore service. Durbin also asks customers without power to make sure they call and report the outage. He also says residents should call 9-1-1 if they see a downed wire. Tune to WJPA 93.5 FM/1450 AM for the very latest.
February 3, 2022 4:18 pm
State Police and other emergency responders were called out Thursday afternoon to a home in Burgettstown, for reports of a man who had barricaded himself in a home. Washington County 911 tells WJPA News that the man was taken into custody. No further information is available at this time.
February 3, 2022 12:48 pm
Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region. PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:
Allegheny County
- Interstates 79, 376 (Parkways East and West), 279 (Parkway North), and 579
- State Route 28
Beaver County
- Interstate 376 (Beaver Valley Expressway)
Lawrence County
February 3, 2022 7:24 am
ATMEH, Syria (AP) – President Joe Biden says an elite U.S. military force killed the leader of the Islamic State group, during an overnight raid in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province. The raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who took over as head of the militant group on Oct. 31, 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid in the same area. The operation came as IS has been trying for a resurgence, with a series of attacks in the region, including a 10-day assault late last month to seize a prison. Biden plans to address the American public later Thursday morning. First responders reported that 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women.
February 3, 2022 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S. troops to Poland and Germany amid the stalled talks with Russia over the Kremlin’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders. The U.S. is also moving roughly 1,000 troops to Romania from an infantry squadron based in Germany. U.S. officials from Biden on down say no American forces will be sent to Ukraine itself to fight, even with the threat of a Russian invasion. Still, Russia reacted angrily to the latest troop announcement, calling it “destructive.” The United States says the new military movements are meant to reassure allies – and remind Russia – of America’s commitment to NATO’s eastern flank in the region.
February 3, 2022 4:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden had Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer over to the White House on Wednesday to talk about how to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court. That’s according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity. Biden has promised to nominate the first Black woman to the high court as he fills the spot being vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer, who is retiring at the end of this term. The president has already amassed a list of potential candidates that includes women with a range of professional expertise, from federal defenders to longtime judges and academics.
February 3, 2022 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Army says it will immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon. The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any. Roughly 97% of all Army soldiers have gotten at least one shot. More than 3,000 have requested medical or religious exemptions.
February 3, 2022 4:11 am
CHICAGO (AP) – A major winter storm has left more than 200,000 homes and businesses without power across the U.S. The multi-day storm dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of the Midwest and triggered weather warnings from Texas to the Northeast. Power companies have struggled to keep pace with freezing rain and snow that weighed down tree limbs and encrusted power lines. Travelers also are dealing with thousands of canceled flights around the U.S. The storm’s path stretched further from the central U.S. on Thursday into more of the South and Northeast. Forecasters say more heavy snow is expected, while heavy ice buildup was likely from Texas to Pennsylvania.
February 3, 2022 4:09 am
OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) – Authorities say one person is dead and others wounded after a shooting on a Greyhound bus in Northern California. It happened at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Oroville. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect fled after the shooting but was later found in a nearby Walmart and arrested. There’s no immediate word on how many people were hurt or their conditions, although Oroville’s mayor had earlier said five people were shot. There’s also no immediate word on a motive for the attack.
